The National tribune., 1887-01-06
MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.


commemorate Services
Sons.
The Vermont Legislature has recently passed
a bill appropriating 5000 to perpetuate the
memories of the Gettysburg battlefield, 900
of which Is to be expended under the direction
of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial AssOcia-
ton In the purchase of lands ofespeeial interest,"
construction of avenues and driveways. re-
building and repairing of breastworks, and
otherwise preserving and Identifying the field
800 is appropriated to mark with suitable
monuments the positions of Vermont regiments
engaged in that battle. The troops of Vermont
were less scattered than those any other State.
The old First Brigade, under Col. Grant, was
massed on the left of the Union line in rear of
Round Top, where it occupied an exceedingly
responsible position, but was not actively en-
gagged.
The Second Brigade, under Gen. Stannard,
held position of great Importance, and al
though only few months in service, this COM
mand won undying fame for the State it repre-
sented. The LIST Vt. Cav, Lieut. Col. Preston,
was also conspicuous, Maj. Wells leading his
battalion in charge of great gallantry, in
which Gen. Farnsworth, who accompanied it,
was killed. The Vermont companies in Ber-
dams Sharpshooters were also noted for their
efficiency.
The Legislatures every New England State,
except Maine, have now made appropriations
toward the purchase of the important parts Of
that extensive battlefield, and to mark the po-
sitiOns of their troops upon it. 1t is, however,
no fault of the Maine Legislature that her COM
mandsare not represented, the subject never hav-
ing been introduced but the present indications
are that Maine will soon follow, as it is being
agitated throughout the State, not only by veter-
ans engaged, but by the citizens. Several dis
| tinguished citizens recently paid a visit to that
Held and were somewhat chagrined to find that
there were no indications to show that Maine
az, FOL I.Sk
| Except a monument erected by private SUBJ
| scription to mark one of the positions of the
GOTH, and as matters now stand the tourist
would naturally conclude that Maine troops had
but little to do with the battle. New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and COnnec-
tieut monuments are seen on every part of the
| field. 1t would be a perpetual injustice to the
veterans OF as brave troops as the Army of the
Potomac possessed should this state Of affairs
| continue. An examination of the facts will
| show that on every part OF that field where the
battle ragged fercest, there the sons OF Maine
| performed their whole duty. The history of
the first days battle would DO incomplete with
| out an account of the movements of Halls I'd
Me. battery, which dashed into the fight at the
very opening of the engagement; or with
out description of the stubborn resistance
| of Stevens's 9Th battery later in the day, or of
the staying qualities Of the 18th regiment Col.
| Tilden, which received the great honor of being
| selected to cover the retreat of our troops when
the position was found to be untenable, and
which held the enemy at bay while their COM
| rade5 retired through the town, and until
nearly every man fell dead, wounded or a pris-
Oner, the brave Colonel languishing in Libby
Prison until, with others, he burrowed his way
out and escaped. Maine cannot afford to leave
the positions of such commands unmarked. A
monument representing the color bearer Of the
18th Mass brigaded with the 10th Me. j of heroic
Ius.l - ~ 80
! regiment. On the succeeding days Maine
troops were equally conspicuous. Was it not the
Sd Me-, Col. Moses b. Lakeman. which advanced
on the morning of the second day and helped
Berdan develop the presence and movements of
the enemy? And was it not the 4th Me-, Col.
| Walker, which held the left Of the Third Corps
line at the Devils Den amid some of the most
desperate fighting of the battle? Did not the
! 9th Me-, Col. Edwards; the 9th Me-. Col Burn
ham, and the 9TH Me-, Lieut.-Col. Common. make
forced march of more than 80 miles after the
battle opened to meet the foe arriving Just " in
the nick of time" and by their presence con-
tributing to his repulse? And when the Third
Corps line was severed on the second day by the
fearful onslaught of Barksdale's Mississippians
did not Col. MeGilvery, son of Maine, bring uE
BOWS 9th battery, which, by repeated charges
Of "double-shotted" canister broke their charge
and sent them bowling back? Was it not
detachment Of the 10th Me-, Capt. Beardsley
that Gen. Sl0cum commanding the right wins
of the army selected as q headquarters guard
And has not the unexampled bravery of the
18th Me. in its fight in the famous Wheatfel6
become identified with that whirlpool" Of
the battle? And did not the 18th Me. perform
distinguished services on the second day, and
when Pickett's Division broke through oul
lines on the third, did il not move rapidly tC
the threatened point and attack him in flank
Vincents Spur, between the Round Tops
was made famous by its gallant defense by the
10th Me. That spot is suitably marked by
private subscription, but the summit of Round
Top has no tablet to show that the Goth Ne
climbed mp among the crags on the night Of the
second, and held it to the close of the battle
Hence it will be seen that one of the most inn
portant pages of Gettysburgs history is yet tC
DO carved on tablets of granite by the Pine Tres
State, and then New England's story will b
told and illustrated on that field